XRP (CRYPTO: XRP) remains below the $2 mark since mid-January, but rising network activity and institutional inflows are fueling speculation of a potential Q2 rebound.
The XRP Activity Spike
Singapore-based crypto exchange Bitrue reported a sharp increase in XRP activity, with spot purchase volumes surging 212% and buy orders outpacing sell orders by more than two-to-one.
The spike coincides with continued institutional accumulation following the launch of XRP ETFs. XRP has attracted $1.1 billion in net assets, recording consistent weekly inflows and only five days of outflows over the period measured.
Bitrue said the combination of retail and institutional demand could create supply pressure in Q2, potentially positioning XRP to outperform competing altcoins.
The exchange, an early XRP supporter since 2018, also plans to expand its role as a liquidity hub within the XRP Ledger ecosystem by increasing support for assets such as RLUSD and strengthening XRP’s use as a base trading pair.
The Debate Over Network Control
Separately, Ripple CTO David Schwartz addressed renewed questions on social media about whether XRP transactions can be blocked or centrally controlled.
Schwartz said the XRP Ledger does not allow valid transactions to be stopped by any single party, including Ripple.
He explained that a transaction would fail only if users altered its validity conditions, rendering it invalid under network consensus rules.
According to Schwartz, there is no mechanism for Ripple or any other entity to freeze wallets or block compliant transactions within the framework of the XRP Ledger.
His comments follow criticism from Justin Bons, founder of Cyber Capital, who argued that Ripple’s Unique Node List structure could theoretically enable institutional influence over the network.
As XRP hovers below key psychological levels, traders are weighing rising activity and institutional flows against ongoing debates over decentralization and governance.
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